Essay on An Overview of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an autoimmune process that develops when a previous viral insult to the nervous system has occurred in a genetically susceptible individual. B lymphocytes, plasma cells, and activated T cells, along with proinflammatory cytokines, cause inflammation, oligodendrocyte injury and demyelination. Early inflammation and demyelination lead to irreversible axonal

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of humankind’s most mysterious diseases. No one knows the exact cause and there is no exact treatment. Still multiple sclerosis has the ability to affect nearly 3 million people worldwide and at least 500,000 people in the United States (Boroch). This disease tends to be more common in individuals of northern European descent and women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men. Of those 3 million people, most of them are between the ages of 20 and 50 years old (Dangond). Even though multiple sclerosis is a mystery disease, scientists are working to determine the exact cause and treatment.

1. Main point 2: So now that I have talked about what MS is, let us continue on to what the symptoms are and how it can be diagnosed. In most cases, the symptoms generally appear between the ages of 20 and 40 and affect more than twice as many women as men. Common indicators of MS are fatigue, dizziness, numbness and tingling, weakness, blurred vision, heat sensitivity, slurred speech, problems with memory and concentration, loss of balance and more. Sometimes the symptoms disappear completely and the person regains lost functions or sometimes a change in their life causes the symptoms to resurface and return stronger than ever. In my observations, my Dads’ MS is strongest in hot weather and during times of high stress. The symptoms normally vary from person to person, which makes it hard to diagnose. There are currently no lab tests that can be done to rule out or confirm MS, but MRI’s can help reach a strong diagnosis. MS is not considered a fatal disease, but many people struggle to live as productively as they desire, often facing many limitations.

MS is characterized by the destruction of myelin, inflammation in the CNS and the formation of lesions in the CNS.

Anyone can develop MS, but many patients share the following characteristics. The majority experiences their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40. Caucasians are more than twice as likely as other races to develop MS. MS is two to three times more common in women as in men. MS is five times more common in temperate climates like those of the northern US, Canada, and Europe. And people whose close relatives have MS are more susceptible to developing the disease, but there is no evidence the disease is directly inherited.

Muscle weakness, vision problems, and bladder and bowel problems are all symptoms that are most likely induced by lesions in the motor nerve tracts (MS Focus). Vision problems are also one of the earliest symptoms due to the onset of MS (MedicineNet). Some people may experience blurred patches of vision, while others may encounter color desaturation (MedicineNet). Affecting about eight in ten people, the most common symptom of MS is fatigue, causing muscle weakness, tiredness, or slowed thinking (WebMD). “Some people with MS say they can feel tired even after a good night’s sleep,” as stated by WebMD.

     Anyone can develop MS, but many patients share the following characteristics. The majority experiences their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40. Caucasians are more than twice as likely as other races to develop MS. MS is two to three times more common in women as in men.

Other symptoms include spasms. One spasm is known as the “drop foot.” A person could be casually walking and suddenly, his or her foot can basically shut down and drop. Spasms usually result in muscle stiffness and uncontrollable jerk-movements, according to Healthline Editorial Team, George Krucik, MD, MBA , Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis, January 25, 2013. Another common symptom would be fatigue. This fatigue remains constant due to the deterioration of the central nervous system. With fatigue also comes muscle weakness, loss of motion and touch, which mostly occurs in the hands and legs. A few other symptoms include short-term memory loss, slurred speech,

MS(Multiple Sclerosis) is a disease which gradually hardens all tissues and also causes scars. These scars form when the persons immune system's cells go into the central nervous system and cause inflammation to the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. MS is also a non contagious and unpredictable disease. MS is also the most common chronic disease (when it comes to the CNS (Central Nervous System)) with young Australians. Throughout all the states of Australia, Victoria is the State with the most people that have the condition.

The first MS symptom can happen between the ages of 20 and 40. The symptoms can be vision problems, muscle weakness in the legs and arms, difficulty with coordination, problems with memory, and many more symptoms that vary in each person. The severity and progression of the disease is different with each person. The symptoms can last weeks or months and some people may experience one symptom where as others can have a combination of symptoms. Many people that suffer from MS go through a period of relapsing-remitting, which is when there are acute attacks and then the recovery follows in a short period of

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage in the brain and spinal cord with a loss of myelin that covers the axons. As the myelin sheath regenerates, scar tissue forms, which looks like plaques on magnetic resonance imaging scans. Multiple sclerosis arises when immune-mediated inflammation activates T cells and causes the T cells and immune mediators to cross the blood-brain barriers into the CNS and attack oligodendrocytes (ie, a type of neuroglial cell with dendritic projections that coil around axons of neural cells). When the oligodendrocytes are attacked, the myelin sheath is replaced by scar tissue, which forms throughout the CNS. As a result of damage to the myelin sheath, the ability to transmit and conduct nerve impulses along the spinal cord and in the brain is interrupted, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, loss of coordination, balance impairment, and cognitive and visual disturbance (DeLuca & Nocentini, 2011). This disease is characterized by unpredictable remissions that occur over several years. During periods of remission, the myelin sheath usually regenerates and symptoms may resolve, but the myelin cannot be completely repaired. As the disease progresses, the myelin sheath is destroyed and nerve impulses become much slower or absent and symptoms worsen. When degeneration exceeds self-repair ability, permanent disability results. There are four defined clinical types of

The most common Multiple Sclerosis symptoms are Fatigue, Numbness or Tingling, Dizziness, Slurred speech, Bladder problems, Bowel problems, Emotional changes, Cognitive changes, and Walking difficulties. It usually begin over a several days, but may also develop more slowly. MS can be mild or severe and may go away quickly or last for months. The disease is common to return, but it may get worse without periods of remission. Any Nerves that is part of the brain or the spinal cord can be damaged. Due to this, symptoms of MS may appear in any regions of the body. approximately 60 to 70% of people who has relapsing-remitting MS develops a steady progression of symptoms, with or without periods of

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly known as MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Scientists have been studying MS since the 19th century. In MS, the body’s immune system produces cells and antibodies that attack myelin in your brain which is essential for the nerves in your brain and spinal cord to conduct electricity to perform its function. The attack on myelin results in vison loss, paralysis, numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, stiffness, spasms, and bladder and bowel problems. MS has varying degrees of severity and affects people between the ages of 20-50, mostly women. Although there are treatments, there is no cause and cure yet.

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that is very painful for both the patient and care giver. In the disease, there is inflammation and neurodegeneration acting at the same time. There is currently no known primary cause of multiple sclerosis. The disease is however characterized by damaged fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and the spinal cord. Myelin is a mixture of proteins and phospholipids that protects many nerve fibers enabling speed at which impulses are conducted. It is pathologically characterized as the presence of glial scars all over in the central nervous system. The disease was discovered by the French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot in 1868 when he examined the brain

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System, which interferes with the communication between the Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and other parts of the body. The immune system attacks the myelin on the nerve fibers; resulting in damaged myelin that forms sclerosis. Overtime, many nerve fibers and myelin sheath will be damaged or even destroyed, resulting in the nerve impulse being interrupted. MS can be mild, moderate, or severe, therefore, it may cause disability as well as death. Interestingly enough, more women are affected than men. Common signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis include: fatigue, difficulties with walking (gait), spasticity, numbness/tingling, weakness, vision problems, pain, vertigo, depression, emotional changes, cognitive changes, bladder/bowel problems, and sexual problems. Less common signs and symptoms include: speech/swallowing problems, seizures, tremor, breathing problems, headache, pruritus, and hearing loss. There a four different types of Multiple Sclerosis: Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS), Primary-progressive MS (PPMS), and Progressive-relapsing MS (PRMS). Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis is the most common type of MS; about 85% of people are diagnosed with this type of Multiple Sclerosis. Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by worsening neurologic function attacks throughout the disease. The attacks are also known